Nintendo’s rise back to the top of the industry was this generation’s Cinderella story…in 2007. In 2008, that tale necessarily became a “now that I’m in charge, here’s what we’re going to do” story—not exactly the sort of thing that captivates the masses, but nevertheless a lucrative place to be. So, Nintendo’s 2008 was a year where a lot of money was made—and a few enemies too.



Smash Bros. Brawl Smashes Sales Records
March 17
Our Original Coverage

Many long-time “core” gamers consider the Wii to be a casual system directed not just towards a broader market—which also means its pointed away from the loyal fans that kept Nintendo going for years. But that didn’t stop those fans from buying Super Smash Bros Brawl in record numbers. In fact, with 1.4 millions copies moved in just the first week alone, the game was the fastest-selling title in all of Nintendo’s history. That such a milestone was achieved outside of the holiday season by a game that was specifically designed for longtime Nintendo stalwarts made an important statement about the vibrancy and diversity of the Wii market.



Miyamoto Tops Time 100
May 1
Our Original Coverage

When Time asked web voters to pick the most influential person of the year, the people spoke resoundingly in favor of—Nintendo’s design legend Shigeru Miyamoto. Miyamoto beat previous top picks like Korean pop star Rain and notorious ballot-stuffing comedian Stephen Colbert to achieve this goal, stating unequivocally that (for internet-connected people who read Time, at least) he had become a household name. This was yet another sign that, with Nintendo leading the way, videogames had turned the corner on becoming the mass-market entertainment leader.



WiiWare Goes Live
May 11
Our Original Coverage

Though Virtual Console had been providing older gamers with classics since launch, when it came to new digitally distributed content the Wii languished well behind its competition. Nintendo finally made its attempt at parity with the launch of WiiWare in the spring, bringing to market exclusive content including a new Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles title. While new games have been released regularly via WiiWare since then, the system has been far from an unmitigated success. Developers have allegedly complained of marketing difficulties and low sales, while high-value customers have spent the year howling about the Wii’s lack of memory—a problem exacerbated by WiiWare downloads.